HC Deb 13 March 1884 vol 285 cc1344-5
SIR HENRY TYLER

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been drawn to the following, in The Standard of the 10th March:— Everyone hopes that the battery of Horse Artillery, asked for since the experience of the last fight, will arrive in time for the next engagement. It is not too much to say that two-thirds of our casualties in the last battle were wholly due to the refusal of the Military authorities at home to comply with the request made that a battery of Artillery should accompany the Force to El Teb; whether his own information coincides with the statement therein made; and, also, to state the words of the orders which were sent to the General Officer Commanding in Cairo, and to General Graham, to make any demand for Horse or Field Artillery which they might consider necessary, and to quote the information he has recently received that General Graham is not going to employ any field guns in the Expedition to Osman Digma's Camp at Tamanieb Wells?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

Sir, I have no information bearing out the statement made by the Correspondent of The Standard. On the 5th of March General Stephenson telegraphed— Graham reports, if we operate against enemy near Suakin, battery of Horse Artillery very desirable. I recommend application be complied with. On the following day I telegraphed to General Graham— Is it desirable to obtain Horse Artillery from Cairo, considering time required for transport to Suakin? Presume enemy has no Artillery. I leave you to decide. General Stephenson authorized to comply with demands from you. On the 7th of March General Graham telegraphed to me that he had sent the following message to General Stephenson:— Can do without battery and without more horses.